KU bioscience and tech center gets new tenant

Ligand Pharmaceuticals, a drug-discovery company, will move into the Bioscience and Technology Business Center at Kansas University and bring the incubator space on KU’s West Campus to 100 percent occupancy.

Ligand will bring two employees to the facility, but the number could grow later this year.

The BTBC opened in summer 2010.

Ligand purchased Lenexa-based CyDex Pharmaceuticals in January 2011. CyDex was founded in 1993 to commercialize drug-delivery technology invented in the labs of KU researcher Val Stella.

The statewide BTBC system, including the main facility, the expansion facility at 4950 Research Parkway in Lawrence, and the KUMC facility in Kansas City, Kan., now have 15 tenants overall.